The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Royal Air Force will develop a boom refuelling capability alongside its current probe-and-drogue system, opening the way for future tanker aircraft to support a wider range of allied jets. Luke Pollard, Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry, set out the plan in a written parliamentary answer, linking the move to sovereign air-to-air refuelling capacity and stronger interoperability with NATO partners.
The confirmation leaves key questions unresolved, including whether the boom will be fitted to existing Voyager tankers or introduced on a new platform, potentially Airbus MRTT+. No timetable, budget or procurement path has been disclosed. The RAF now operates probe-and-drogue refuelling only, a limitation that narrows compatibility with boom-equipped aircraft used by some allies and partners.
The policy points to a broader tanker-fleet planning effort, but the government has not published any detailed acquisition announcement. For now, the development remains a ministerial commitment rather than a funded programme with delivery dates or platform selection.